HOW TO STRIP FLOORS

Purpose
    To remove a floor finish when any of the following occurs:
        1.  The color begins to turn.
        2.  The finish begins to build up.
        3.  Mopping, spray buffing or refinishing does not give the results desired.

Supplies and Equipment
    Treated dust mop
    Brush and dust pan
    Putty knife
    Wet/dry vacuum
    2 buckets
    Squeegee
    Stripping solution:
        MARC 39+ Super Strip,
        MARC 73 Low Down,
        MARC 75 Easy Strip,
        MARC 272 Once Over or
MARC GREEN 708 Supreme Wax Stripper
    Fresh water
    2 downward pressure wringers
    Wet mop
    Floor machine
    MARC stripping pads:
        MARC 803 "Hawg Hair" Super Strip,
        MARC 805 Black Strip or
        MAC 825 Super Strip-½"
    "Floor Hazard" signs
    Waterproof shoe coverings

Procedure
  1.  Prepare the area:
     a.  Place "Floor Hazard" signs in easy-to-see locations at entrances to area being stripped.
     b.  Move furniture.  Work around heavy furniture or equipment that cannot be moved.  Tilt file cabinets and mount on blocks.
     c.  Sweep the floor with a treated dust mop or vacuum the floor.
     d.  Remove gum and other foreign material with a putty knife.
     e.  Place stripping pad (either MARC 803 "Hawg Hair", MARC 805 Black Strip, or MARC 825 Super Strip) on the machine.
     f.   Set equipment in area where work will begin.  Start in a corner of a room farthest from the entrance.

  2.  Follow the instruction for using the stripping solution and pour into the bucket.

  3.  Dip mophead into stripping solution.  Apply to the floor liberally.  Fan out the mophead on the floor and start applying solution at the edges.  (Note:  most build-up is at the edges - ask you MARC sales representative about MARC 155 Edge Runner Baseboard Cleaner.)

  4. Apply the solution in a 6' to 7' arc or side-to-side movement to cover the area between the edges.  Cover only a 100 to 175 square foot area at a time.

  5.  Where splashing on the walls or baseboards occurs, wipe off immediately with a damp cloth.

  6.  Let the solution soak on the floor for 10 minutes.

  7.  Using the floor machine with either the MARC 803 "Hawg Hair", MARC 805 Black Strip or MARC 825 Super Strip pad, strip the area that is covered with solution.  Overlap the strokes made by the machine.

  8.  Use the mop and empty bucket or wet/dry vacuum to pick up the dirty solution.   Do NOT allow solution to dry on the floor.

  9.  Rinse area using fresh water and a mophead which is slightly wrung out.

10.  Clean mophead with water after the first rinsing of the floor is complete.

11.  Rinse two more times with fresh water.  In the final rinse, add MARC 245 Neutralizer according to the directions.  A neutralized floor gives a much better bond of the finish to the tile.

12.  Allow floor to dry. Restrip any high gloss spots.

13.  Allow floor to dry at least one hour after final rinse.  Check floor to be sure it is ready for finish by wiping your hand across a section of the floor.  If a white powder comes up, the floor has not been rinsed properly, and must be rinsed until no more white powder comes up after the floor is dry.  When no more white powder comes up, the floor is ready to be finished.

Accomplishment
    After following this procedure, the floor will be free of all sealer, finishes, dirt, grime, gum and other foreign matter, and will have no powdery residue.  The floor is then ready for finish to properly bond to the floor tile.

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